OVERSHADOWED by the General Election, there will also be an election for the city council on the same day.
A third of the seats are up for grabs with 19 contests as well as a by-election in Cheriton and Bishop’s Sutton caused by the resignation of Conservative Harry Verney.
The council is on a knife-edge with the Conservatives holding 26 seats, the Liberal Democrats 24, Labour three, the Independent group two, an independent Malcolm Wright and one vacant.
The Tories are defending ten of those, the Lib Dems six, the Independents three and Labour one.
The Big Three are contesting all 20 seats; UKIP are fighting 12 and the Greens five.
This is an unusual election as those elected will probably only serve for a year until an all-out election in 2016 caused by the Boundary Commission’s proposal to cut the number of councillors from 57 to 45.
Among the issues are handling of Silver Hill and council transparency, the future development of Station Approach and River Park Leisure Centre, traffic and affordable housing
There are lots of interesting personal stories. Malcolm Wright left the Tory group because of Silver Hill in February but is back in the fold contesting Wonston and Micheldever.
The former boss of Winchester Area Community Action, Paul Williams, is standing in St Bartholomew ward in the Hyde area for the Lib Dems. It was held by former mayor Sue Nelmes.
TV reporter Nigel Burwood, a well-known face from his time at Meridian, is fighting Colden Common and Twyford for UKIP.
Trying to make a comeback in Swanmore and Newtown is former council leader Sheila Campbell who lost her seat in 2006.
Rebel Silver Hill councillor Kim Gottlieb whose court case has embarrassed the ruling Tory group is the official party candidate in Itchen Valley; his supporter Rose Burns is the official candidate in St Bartholomew.
A large number of Cabinet members are up for election: council leader Frank Pearson, Ernie Jeffs and Patricia Stallard as well as former leader Rob Humby who resigned over Silver Hill in February.
Trying to replicate the Clintons in political dynasties is Liz Hutchison who is standing in St Paul ward in place of her husband Robert.
Some candidates will be rather busy. Gemma McKenna battles for Labour in the Upper Meon Valley and is also contesting the Meon Valley in the General Election.
In Winchester Michael Wilks is contesting for the Greens both the General Election and the St Bartholomew ward.
The General Election will boost turnout for the city council poll – who will that benefit? Who knows! Last time just 44 per cent of the electorate bothered to vote.
The full list of city council candidates:
(asterisk) Denotes sitting councillor
Bishop’s Waltham
Roger Bentote, Lib Dem
Colin Chamberlain, Independent*
Steve Haines, Lab
Tom Ruffell, Con
Vivienne Young, UKIP.
Colden Common and Twyford
Nigel Burwood, UKIP
Susan Cook, Con
Sarah Critcher, Lab
Daryl Henry, Lib Dem*
Compton and Otterbourne
Chris Barton-Briddon, UKIP
Eleanor Bell, Lib Dem
Margaret Rees, Lab
Jan Warwick, Con*
Denmead
Leslie Mitchell, UKIP
David Picton-Jones, Lab
Margaret Scriven, Lib Dem
Patricia Stallard, Con*
Itchen Valley
Antony De Peyer, Lab
Kim Gottlieb, Con*
Robin Rea, Lib Dem
Littleton and Harestock
Kelsie Learney, Lib Dem*
Peter Rees, Lab
Paul Twelftree, Con
Owslebury and Curdridge
Tom Houghton, Lib Dem
Rob Humby, Con*
Steven Jakubowski, Lab
Mark Jones, UKIP
St Barnabas
Eileen Berry, Con*
Pat Maier, Lib Dem
Toby North, Lab
Malcolm Perrins, Green
St Bartholomew
Rosemary Burns, Con
Kathy East, Lab
Michael Wilks, Green
Paul Williams, Lib Dem
St John and All Saints
Bob Barnes, UKIP
Ben Farnes, Lab
Adrian Hicks, Ind,
Callum Kennard, Lib Dem
James Peploe, Green
Jonathan Scowen, Con
St Luke
Ross Playle, Con
Kia Pope, Green
Jamie Scott, Lib Dem*
Max Stafford, Lab
St Michael
Julia Hallmann, Green
John Henderson, UKIP
Fiona Mather, Con*
Sharon Montgomery, Lab
Andrew Thompson, Lib Dem
St Paul
Joshua Curgenven, Green
Liz Hutchison, Lib Dem
Carol Orchard, Lab
Steve Russell, Con
Derek Smith, UKIP
Swanmore and Newtown
Sheila Campbell, Lib Dem
Laurence Clough, Lab
Dan Paddock, UKIP,
Frank Pearson, Con*
Whiteley
Andy Baker, Con
Gary Gray, Lab
Sam Newman-McKie, Lib Dem*
David Walbridge, UKIP
The Alresfords
Robin Atkins, Lab
Ernest Jeffs, Con*
Stephen Pinch, Lib Dem
Upper Meon Valley
Norma Bodtger, Con*
Judith Clementson, UKIP
Gemma McKenna, Lab
Anne Stoneham, Lib Dem
Wickham
Caroline Brook, Con
Angela Clear, Lib Dem*
Ian Norgate, UKIP
Paul Sony, Lab
Wonston and Micheldever
Peter Marsh, Lab
Katy Toms, Lib Dem
Malcolm Wright, Con*
Cheriton and Bishop’s Sutton (By-election)
Christopher Day, Lib Dem
Amber Thacker, Con
Tessa Valentine, Lab
See full election coverage online and in the Hampshire Chronicle
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